Disney’s released a brand new minute and a half trailer for The Lion King, the 2019 remake of the classic blockbuster animated film. The trailer features Mufasa advising his young son on how to be a king and telling his child that he must take his place in the circle of life. Scar makes his menacing presence known, and the trailer ends with Timon and Pumbaa singing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
The Lion King‘s cast includes Donald Glover (Atlanta, Solo: A Star Wars Story) as Simba and Beyoncé (Dreamgirls) as Simba’s friend and love interest, Nala. James Earl Jones (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) is Mufasa, Simba’s father. Jones also voiced the role in the 1994 animated film.
Chiwetel Ejiofor (Twelve Years a Slave, Doctor Strange) provides the voice of the film’s villain, Scar. Alfre Woodard (Luke Cage) gives voice to Simba’s mother, Sarabi, and JD McCrary (Tyler Perry’s The Paynes) took on the job of voicing Young Simba. Shahadi Wright Joseph (Broadway’s The Lion King) is the voice of Young Nala.
The colorful cast of animals who help Simba on his journey include John Kani (Captain America: Civil War) as Rafiki and John Oliver (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver) as Zazu the hornbill. Seth Rogen (Neighbors) is Pumbaa the warthog and Billy Eichner (American Horror Story) portray’s Pumbaa’s best friend, Timon the meerkat. Florence Kasumba (Emerald City) is Shenzi, Eric André (Man Seeking Woman) is Azizi, and Keegan-Michael Key (Friends From College) is Kamari.
Jon Favreau, director of Disney’s 2016 blockbuster The Jungle Book, directed the photorealistic animated version of The Lion King. Jeff Nathanson wrote the screenplay and Favreau, Jeffrey Silver, and Karen Gilchrist served as producers.
Disney’s The Lion King opens in theaters on July 19, 2019.
The Plot:
Disney’s The Lion King journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.
Staying true to the classic story, director Jon Favreau utilizes pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring the iconic characters to the big screen in a whole new way.